We have done it many timeswith no trouble,normally you dont have everything turned on at the same time.I have seen alot of people carry a short lead with 15amp one end & 10amp the other for this purpose.Just need to be sensable with what you run.

watch the heater power milo, some heaters are 1500 watt and may just be enough to burn out your wiring, works for a while but there is a reason the manufacturers and safety mob recommend a 15 amp plug

at the very least run the plug through a r.c.d. (residual current device)

What you want to do is illegal, and for good safety reasons.
The circuits in your van are designd for a 15A input cable. If you use a 10A one how do you plug it in to the 15A socket on the van? If you do this (illegally) with an adaptor and it catches fire you will say good by to insurance for the van (and maybe your friend's house too. The cable could be overloaded.
It is also illegal to file the earth pin down on a 15A lead to fit into a 10A plug.

Cheers,
Peter

This is the only legal and approved way to do it Jonathan.
This has an additional safety devise incorporated (and that is why it costs......).
Worth having one if you need to plug into 10A.

Cheers,
Peter

Ok, so why not build your own???? An appropriate RCD 10 amp rated is about $30, a box some lead a 10 Amp plug a 15 amp socket and bobs your uncle for around $50 tops.....
Or even simpler buy an outdoor 10 amp lead with inbuilt RCD protection and replace the 10 amp socket with a 15 amp one to plug into the van. Bunnings and all electrical outlets sell these, they are a legal requirment for builders these days....
Just because someone "invents" a way to do things safely does not mean that you can't use some nouse and do the job cheaper without sacrificing safety..... 

Basil Faulty wrote:

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Ok, so why not build your own???? An appropriate RCD 10 amp rated is about $30, a box some lead a 10 Amp plug a 15 amp socket and bobs your uncle for around $50 tops.....
Or even simpler buy an outdoor 10 amp lead with inbuilt RCD protection and replace the 10 amp socket with a 15 amp one to plug into the van. Bunnings and all electrical outlets sell these, they are a legal requirment for builders these days....
Just because someone "invents" a way to do things safely does not mean that you can't use some nouse and do the job cheaper without sacrificing safety..... 

---

Are you a licenced electrician then Basil?
Building your own is not legal if you aren't.
The product that you propose is not legal, or safe and a licensed electrician won't build that for you.

Cheers,
Peter

 

.. Aren't we fortunate that we are all given the opportunity to voice our own opinions .. and that we, as individuals, can choose to glean what we wish from anothers opinions ..

Jon

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

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Basil Faulty wrote:

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Ok, so why not build your own???? An appropriate RCD 10 amp rated is about $30, a box some lead a 10 Amp plug a 15 amp socket and bobs your uncle for around $50 tops.....
Or even simpler buy an outdoor 10 amp lead with inbuilt RCD protection and replace the 10 amp socket with a 15 amp one to plug into the van. Bunnings and all electrical outlets sell these, they are a legal requirment for builders these days....
Just because someone "invents" a way to do things safely does not mean that you can't use some nouse and do the job cheaper without sacrificing safety..... 

---

Are you a licenced electrician then Basil?
Building your own is not legal if you aren't.
The product that you propose is not legal, or safe and a licensed electrician won't build that for you.

Cheers,
Peter

 

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No, I'm not a licenced sparky. Yes all 240Volt work should be done by a licenced electrician and indeed there are rules now being designed for the retail market that will prohibit the sale of all electrical fittings, switches, power points etc to anyone not licenced. Naturally Bunnings are furious about this as it will kill sales in that area.....
Strictly speaking you are correct, however it may be illegal to do it but it is never prosecuted because there would be a queue stretching from Perth to Bammaga of people waiting for a sparky to put a plug on a lead if this was rigidly enforced. My problem is I tend to judge others by my own standards and skills so I made a statement that was not correct, simply because I am confident enough to make something like this I should have realised that others are not so confident and could kill themselves taking my advice.
Scrap that idea everyone, if you want to make one of these up yourself take option 2 i.e. buy a 10 amp lead with the RCD/Breaker built in and replace the 10 amp socket THE END THAT PLUGS INTO THE VAN with a 15 amp socket making sure the GREEN wire goes to the earth (E) the BROWN wire goes to the active ( A) and the BLUE wire goes to the neutral (N). Remember this 15 amp socket is downstream from the 10 amp breaker so the max current that can flow through the 15 amp socket into your van is in fact only 10 amps. Illegal? so is parking not close and parrellel, or not at exactly 45 degrees when the sign so directs, and a myriad of other stupid things that we each, individually or severally do each day.
Now there are escape clauses in the electrical wireing rules, one I exploit is in the manufacture of machinery, I used to make some woodworking machinery, lathes, circular saw, lathe, jointer combos; disc sanders etc and I was quite entitled to make and wire these things up as long as they were plug in, it is assumed that the RCD etc in the house wiring will protect the user. Another thing here maybe worth mentioning. Has anyone ever checked their 240 V Generator for compliance with australian standards???? And who makes the leads to plug them into a caravan??? Just because you are making your own 240 volt does not abrogate ones responsibilities under the electrical wiring rules.
Its all a very grey mushy area, I was under the mistaken opinion that we were against the over governance of society, use some common sense and all will be ok....

-- Edited by Basil Faulty on Tuesday 6th of October 2009 05:26:44 PM

Hi All
While Basil has given very detailed instructionson how to make up a 10<15 amp lead the real point is,it is still not an approved item under the australian standards.

Any devise connected to 240v power has to meet Australian standards, using ANY devise that has not been approved leaves the user &/or maker/supplier subject  to possibly severe penalties in the case of an accident.
Insurance could also be void.
The Amphibian lead has standards approval.!!!, not a back yard job.
It also seems that many believe that EVERY home van etc is fitted with a RCD, many older ones are not
 
Even posting advise such as Basil's  could have problems in the case of an accident, if it could be shown that the advise led to the accident